KARACHI: The Directorate of Transit Trade has arrested Faraz Khan of M/s Saryal Cargo as he was nominated in an FIR lodged pertaining to the pilferage of NATO/ISAF reverse cargo.
Sources said that Faraz Khan was absconding and reportedly had taken refuge in Afghanistan. It was known that Faraz Khan was coming back to Pakistan via Torkham border. The FIA checked his documents and found that the person was wanted by Directorate of Transit Trade.
The FIA authorities arrested the accused and handed over to Directorate of Transit Trade Karachi. The accused was presented before the Customs Court and a 14-day remand was acquired.
An official said as this was a high profile case, Director Transit Trade Wajid Ali had taken other agencies onboard including the FIA, which resulted in the arrest of a wanted accused.
It may be mentioned here that M/s. Saryal Cargo Channel & Customs Clearing Agent, an authorized representative of Consulate General of the United States of America, filed a GD at Directorate of Transit Trade Peshawar (Torkham) for a consignment of ISAF reverse cargo declared to contain batteries wet filled with acid (hazmat waste) for transit to Port Qasim for export to Germany.
As per the report on reverse of the GD the container has been inspected and seal verification was made at Torkham.
The clearing agent M/s. Trade Link International as an authorized representative of US Consulate Karachi submitted five GDs including the above mentioned GD of ISAF reverse cargo transited from Torkham at the same time of ISAF to Port Qasim, for inspection of the containers and seal verification thereof.
However, during perusal and observation of the scanning images of the GDs, the images of the instant GD did not appear as per the declared description. Physical examination of the container was conducted at QICT in presence of representative of M/s. Trade Link International.
During examination shipper and custom seal were found intact. However, the goods were found to be cement blocks and wooden pallets instead of declared description batteries confirming the pilferage of the cargo. An FIR had been lodged accordingly.